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Food Chain:

A food chain is a linear sequence of organisms, each dependent on the next as a source of food. It represents a single pathway through which energy and nutrients flow in an ecosystem. In a typical food chain, organisms are categorized into different trophic levels:

Producers: These are plants and other autotrophic organisms that produce their own food through photosynthesis.
Primary Consumers (Herbivores): These are animals that feed directly on producers.
Secondary Consumers (Carnivores): These are animals that feed on primary consumers.
Tertiary Consumers: These are animals that feed on secondary consumers.
Decomposers: These are bacteria, fungi, and other organisms that break down dead organic matter and recycle nutrients back into the ecosystem.
A simple example of a food chain would be: Grass (Producer) → Rabbit (Primary Consumer) → Fox (Secondary Consumer)

Food Web:

A food web is a more complex representation of the feeding relationships within an ecosystem. Unlike a linear food chain, a food web illustrates multiple interconnected food chains, demonstrating the complex network of interactions among various organisms in an ecosystem. In a food web, organisms can occupy multiple trophic levels and can have multiple prey or predator species.

For example, in a forest ecosystem, a food web might include various plants, herbivores (such as deer, rabbits), predators (such as foxes, wolves), and decomposers (such as fungi, bacteria). Each of these organisms is interconnected, forming a web of relationships. If one population in the food web were to decline or increase significantly, it could have cascading effects on other populations in the web.
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